International Association of Constitutional Law
Research Group on Constitutional Responses to Terrorism Conference
Brussels, Belgium
12-13 March 2015

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http://epic.org/2015/03/surveillance-privacy-and-trans.htmlEPIC EventsThu, 12 Mar 2015 18:25:01 -0500The Right of Privacy in the Age of Big Data: Fact or Fiction?"The Right of Privacy in the Age of Big Data: Fact or Fiction?"

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http://epic.org/2015/03/data-and-goliath-the-hidden-ba.htmlEPIC EventsThu, 05 Mar 2015 18:05:13 -0500Sen. Markey and Rep. Welch Propose Drone Privacy Legislationintroduced the Drone Aircraft Privacy and Transparency Act of 2015. The Act would regulate the use of drones in the United States. The Drone Privacy Act requires publicly available data collection statements from operators and warrants for drone surveillance by law enforcement. Recently announced rules by the FAA and White House "fail to adequately protect the privacy of Americans," according to the Congressmen. The Drone Privacy Act incorporates recommendations by EPIC in testimony to Congress and comments to federal agencies. EPIC petitioned the FAA to establish clear privacy rules for commercial drone operators.]]>http://epic.org/2015/03/sen-markey-and-rep-welch-propo.html
http://epic.org/2015/03/sen-markey-and-rep-welch-propo.htmlTop NewsdronesTue, 03 Mar 2015 16:53:08 -0500Federal Courts Considers FTC's Data Protection AuthorityFTC v. Wyndham, an important data privacy case. Wyndham Hotels, which revealed hundreds of thousands of customer records following a data breach, is challenging the FTC's authority to enforce data security standards. In an amicus brief joined by legal scholars and technical experts, EPIC defended the FTC's "critical role in safeguarding consumer privacy and promoting stronger security standards." EPIC explained that the damage caused by data breaches - more than $500 million last year - makes data security one of the top concerns of American consumers. EPIC warned the court that "removing the FTC's authority to regulate data security would be to bring dynamite to the dam."]]>http://epic.org/2015/03/federal-courts-considers-ftcs.html
http://epic.org/2015/03/federal-courts-considers-ftcs.htmlTop Newsamicusdata breachesFederal Trade CommissionFTCFTC v. WyndhamTue, 03 Mar 2015 13:50:32 -0500EPIC Files FTC Comments on Revenge Porn, Facial Recognition Privacy Risksformal comments with the Federal Trade Commission regarding a proposed consent order with Craig Brittain, a ”revenge porn” website operator. Revenge porn refers to the online distribution of sexual images without the consent of the image subject. Under the proposed order, Brittain "will have to destroy the intimate images and personal contact information he collected while operating the site.” EPIC supported the consent order, but urged the Commission to "further investigate the growing trend of companies recontextualizing images, for profit, without the knowledge or consent of the image subject.” EPIC also explained the correlation between “revenge porn” and other image privacy issues, such as facial recognition and image-based advertising.]]>http://epic.org/2015/03/epic-files-ftc-comments-on-rev.html
http://epic.org/2015/03/epic-files-ftc-comments-on-rev.htmlTop NewsFace RecognitionFederal Trade CommissionRevenge pornMon, 02 Mar 2015 18:01:43 -0500Supreme Court to Consider Hotel Records Privacy Case, EPIC Amicus Cites Constitutional InterestsLos Angeles v. Patel, concerning the warrantless inspection of hotel records by the police. Hotel operators are challenging a city ordinance that requires the collection for police inspection of names, drivers licenses, vehicle information, payment information, and length of stay for every hotel guest. EPIC's brief, joined with thirty-six technical experts and legal scholars, argued that “individuals have a constitutional right to gather at hotels for political and religious purposes without being subject to police inspection.” EPIC traced the history of US hotels as meetings places for organizations and cited the landmark Supreme Court case NAACP v. Alabama.]]>http://epic.org/2015/03/supreme-court-to-consider-hote.html
http://epic.org/2015/03/supreme-court-to-consider-hote.htmlTop NewsamicusLos Angeles v. PatelSupreme CourtMon, 02 Mar 2015 13:18:08 -0500White House (Commerce Dept.) Privacy Bill Not Helpful, Unworkableconsumer privacy proposal, prepared by the Commerce Department. The bill falls far short of the recommendations for a “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights” set out by President Obama in 2012 and broadly supported by consumer organizations. The draft proposal lacks meaningful protections for consumers, would preempt stronger state laws, and create unnecessary regulatory burdens for businesses. EPIC has long recommended enactment of consumer privacy legislation based on “Fair Information Practices,” the basic framework for modern privacy law.]]>http://epic.org/2015/03/white-house-commerce-dept-priv.html
http://epic.org/2015/03/white-house-commerce-dept-priv.htmlTop NewsconsumerConsumer Privacy Bill of Rightsconsumer rightsMon, 02 Mar 2015 11:43:59 -0500EPIC Files Lawsuit for Details About Government "Pre-crime" ProgramFreedom of Information Act lawsuit about "Future Attribute Screening Technology", a "Minority Report" program that purports to identify individuals who will commit crimes in the future. EPIC filed the complaint after the DHS failed to respond to EPIC's FOIA request for information. EPIC charged that the agency uses secret algorithms to identify behavioral "abnormalities" that the agency claims indicate "mal intent." "Minority Report" is a 2002 movie with Tom Cruise about "a special police unit is able to arrest murderers before they commit their crime."]]>http://epic.org/2015/02/epic-files-lawsuit-for-details-3.html
http://epic.org/2015/02/epic-files-lawsuit-for-details-3.htmlTop NewsEPIC v. DHSfoiaThu, 26 Feb 2015 16:01:00 -0500EPIC Challenges Samsung's Surveillance of the Home, Files FTC Complaintcomplaint to the Federal Trade Commission about Samsung's SmartTvs. "Samsung routinely intercepts and records the private communications of consumers in their homes," EPIC wrote. EPIC detailed widespread consumer objections and charged that "privacy notices" do not diminish the harm to American consumers. In setting out the privacy violations, EPIC cited the FTC Act, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, The Cable Act, and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. EPIC also noted a recent speech of FTC Chair Edith Ramirez about privacy and consumer products. EPIC asked the FTC to enjoin Samsung and other companies that engage in similar practices.]]>http://epic.org/2015/02/epic-challenges-samsungs-surve.html
http://epic.org/2015/02/epic-challenges-samsungs-surve.htmlTop NewsCable TV Privacy Act of 1984Child Online Protection ActCOPPAECPAFederal Trade CommissionFTCSamsungTue, 24 Feb 2015 18:10:01 -0500Searching for Data: New Rules and New Tools"Searching for Data: New Rules and New Tools"

Alan Butler,
EPIC Senior Counsel

Federal Courts Law Review Symposium
Charleston School of Law
Charleston, SC
February 20, 2015

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http://epic.org/2015/02/searching-for-data-new-rules-a.htmlEPIC EventsFri, 20 Feb 2015 18:15:12 -0500EPIC Prevails in "Stingray" Case Against FBIFreedom of Information Act case against the FBI concerning a new surveillance technology. EPIC's lawsuit produced the release of more than 4,000 pages of documents about a phony cell tower technique called "Stingray." The documents obtained by EPIC revealed that the FBI used the devices to monitor cell phones without a warrant, and provided Stingrays to other law enforcement agencies. Following objections by Senator Grassley, the FBI restricted Stingray use. In EPIC v. FBI, No. 12-667, the Federal District Court awarded EPIC nearly all of the attorneys' fees requested.]]>http://epic.org/2015/02/epic-prevails-in-stingray-case.html
http://epic.org/2015/02/epic-prevails-in-stingray-case.htmlTop NewsEPIC v. FBIfoiastingrayFri, 20 Feb 2015 14:00:01 -0500